The Deseret Morning News’ Lisa Riley Roche neatly sums up in one page what took the Boston Globe six pages to report. 

The AP’s Jim Kuhnhenn reports that Mitt asked for and received and extension from the Federal Elections Commission regarding his personal finances.  Some MSM cheap shot artists will try to make some political hay with this issue, but I can understand Mitt’s need for an extension.  Counting all that money takes time. 

AOL’s Stump Blogger Martha Sweet Ramirez can’t find anything else to write about other than Seamus’ rooftop ride to Canada.  Dogs don’t like riding with the wind in their face?  Hasn’t any of these reporters ever driven down a highway and seen dogs hang their heads out the window of a speeding car? 

The Boston Globe’s Jennifer Peter reports Bay State Democrats have launched an anti-Mitt website.  Yawn. 

In the wake of yesterdays Senate immigration flame out, the AP’s Ramesh Santanham writes that Mitt favors “no special pathway” to citizenship for those who broke the law to enter the US. 

Article VI’s John takes apart Richard John Neuhaus’ take on the Mormon question.  Sorry, Richard.  You can’t have it both ways. 

The Salt Lake Trib’s Thomas Burr questions Kem Garder’s chartering of a Jet Blue plane to fly supporters to Boston for Mitt’s America’s Calling gig at Fenway.  Only in the last paragraph of his piece does Burr mention the organization actually questioning the flight is headed up by McCain’s legal counsel.  Memo to Thomas Burr:  You’re being used.  End Memo.

While on a fundraising tour through Logan, Utah, Mitt took time to give some seed money to a budding capitalist. 

The Sioux City Journal’s Todd Dorman reports on a thirteen-year-old video clip showing Mitt suggesting reductions in the size and scope of government – including the possibility of reducing the amount of agriculture subsidies.  This clip was emailed to republican operatives in Iowa so it most likely has republican fingerprints on it.  Would anybody care to note that Reagan suggested the same cuts?  No, that didn’t make it into the story. 

The Boston Herald’s Casey Ross writes that yet another journalist is complaining about treatment received at the hands of Jay Garrity.  Evidently said Florida reporter was prevented from getting close to Mitt and Ann in an elevator.  I grow weary of reporters who think they operate on a different plane than everybody else.  Being a reporter doesn’t grant you access.  While perhaps a bit over zealous, Garrity seems to have done his job. 

The Boston Globe’s James Pindell has some good polling data from New Hampshire. 

As long as we’re perusing the Globe, Bob Hohler digs into Mitt’s Olympic fundraising connections.  He throws around a lot of big numbers designed to make the reader envious.  Yes, Mitt did accept a $476,000 severance package – one which he said he wouldn’t when he took the job.  That information is in the second paragraph.  Only in the 25^th paragraph do you find a quote from Fraser Bullock where he explains: 

I think I made him take it. I said, ‘Mitt, you earned it like everybody else. Here it is.’ 

Hohler dances around what should be the main thrust of his article.  How much money did Mitt pocket from his Olympic saving role?  Not one dime.  His salary and the much touted severance package were donated to charity.  Hohler wasn’t even satisfied with that – he wanted to know which charity benefited from Mitt’s efforts. 

Hohler also writes another Globe piece detailing Mitt’s work on the 2002 Olympic games.  I’d give you my take on it, but Article VI’s John pretty much sums up my feelings.  .  Lots of vinegar over there at the Globe these days.  

Good news from the DNC!  Howlin’ Mad Howie Dean’s Head Mitt Hit Man Damien LaVera is back!  His sabbatical didn’t do much for the quality of his press releases.  LaVera seems to think Mitt’s having trouble raising campaign cash.  What LaVera doesn’t tell you is Mitt’s only raising money for the primary election.  Hillary, et. al. are counting cash for both the primary and general election – which means much of the well they have to drink from will be dry because they’ve already gotten all the cash they can.  Never mind the fact Mitt has more cash in his cash cushions than all the democratic contenders do in their legal bank accounts.  Nice try Damien.  Maybe a longer vacation would help. 

Time Magazine’s Ana Marie Cox read yesterday’s Boston Globe fluff piece on the Romney Family’s 1983 “Force Family Outing” (it’s a Mormon thing – you probably don’t get it) where the family dog Seamus rode atop the Romney station wagon.  Seamus was less than happy and let Mitt know about it the only way he could.  Ana Marie Cox was shocked, appalled, and troubled enough to write an article in a national news magazine which stopped just short of demanding that Mitt be frog marched to jail for cruelty to animals.  Memo to Ana Marie Cox:  Decaf.  Try it.  End Memo. 

Some other people in desperate need of decaf include (Lack of) Reason Magazine’s Maia Szalavitz.  So desperate is she to tarnish Mitt she delves into the activities of some of his contributors and concludes that Mitt encourages the torture of teenagers.  Unless Szalavitz believes Mitt’s behavior as a father can be construed as torturous, her claims have no basis in fact or reality – where most of us do our thinking. 

The last entry in today’s Decaf list is WDCMedia’s Bill Wilson.  When all else fails in your attempt to fill the requisite press release, refer to Mitt as a “cult-member”.  Memo to Bill Wilson:  You’re a bigot.  Congratulations.  Here’s your sign.  End Memo. 

Although I’m hesitant to do so, I can’t pass up Times & Seasons’ Jonathan Green.  Other than spelling his name correctly, he hasn’t got much to say.

Tampa Bay 10’s Mario Diaz goes a few rounds with Mitt.
 
The Boston Globe’s Scott Helman says publishers are after Ann for a book deal.  I’m sure that would be interesting reading.
 
Continuing with the Globe’s exposé on the Life of Mitt, Neil Swidey and Stephanie Ebbert add a chapter about Mitt’s family life and fatherhood experience.  No real revelations here although the anecdote about the way the family dog expressed its dismay at riding atop the family station wagon is quite entertaining.
 
The Salt Lake Tribune’s Derek Jensen and Thomas Burr have some quotes by Salt Lake City’s Incredible Shrinking Mayor, Ross Anderson taken from his latest Democracy Now! interview.  Anderson is a disgrace to his city and is attempting to prolong his 15 minutes of fame at Mitt’s expense.  He fails in spectacular fashion.
 
Also from Thomas Burr, a report on Mitt’s Million Dollar Weekend in Utah.  Maybe there is some truth to the “Rich Mormon” rumor.
 
US News’ Jay Tolson writes about Mitt and Mormons.  Like we haven’t already seen that before.  Memo to Jay:  Originality.  Try it.  End Memo.
 
PoliticalDerby’s Philip McCracken (no, I’m not making that name up) has wins today’s prize for most unique poll reporting.  Blame Canada.

Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports from Mitt’s Boston fundraiser about a “coded attack” on the current Oval Office occupant.  I don’t believe this was an attack on the current administration.  Mitt is not George W. Bush nor does he have any relationship to the current administration.  As he has proven in past positions, Mitt has his own way of doing things.  I see Mitt’s statement clearly distinguishing himself as his own man rather than just an heir apparent.
 
The AP reports that Mitt’s name doesn’t translate very well into Chinese.  I guess there could be worse things to be called other than “Sticky Rice”.
 
Howlin’ Mad Howie Dean’s PR crew over at the DNC has put out a very disconcerting press release.  No, it has nothing to do with the content – most if not all DNC press releases aren’t worth the bandwidth it takes to transmit them.  This particular press release holds no quotes from Damien LaVera.  I guess he’s either been canned or promoted.  Any comments for the record, Damien?
 
The AP’s Glen Johnson reports that Mitt has made another personal contribution to his campaign.  All I can say is none of it was made to this blog.  Bottom line – Mitt has cash and can use it how he sees fit.  That’s the best thing about capitalism.
 
And speaking of adventures in capitalism, the Boston Globe’s Sacha Pfeiffer has the latest entry in the Globes’ Making of Mitt Series.  Not a bad piece of work considering the Globe’s track record.  There was, of course, the obligatory reference to job losses resulting from Bain & Company’s restructuring efforts.  People who understand business understand why jobs sometimes disappear.  People who don’t understand business bemoan those who make money at it.
 
As long as I’m on the Globe series, Article VI’s Lowell has some historical details on LDS missionary service during the Vietnam War.  It doesn’t fit the MSM “draft deferment” model, so you won’t hear much about the facts.  Well done, Lowell.
 
I’m usually hesitant to link to the same guy twice in one post, but Politico’s Jonathan Martin gave a plug to a recently launched blog written by Ryan Bell.  TheRomneyExperience bills itself as a place which dispels Mormon Myths about Romney.  Memo to Martin:  Check the B4M archives.  I’ve been doing that for months!
 
And finally, I’ve added a few new links to the B4M Blogroll.  Principal among them is MittReport.  A finer aggregator for Mitt information you will not find.

First off, PoliticalDerby’s Jason Wright has the latest Power Rankings.  Mitt comes in at #2 and I’m ok with that.
 
Salon’s Michael Scherer reports from Iowa on the “Romney Brand”.  All in all, not a bad piece of work.  Scherer writes of the opposition work being done by McCain, Rudy, et al. and sums it up with this paragraph: